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What Causes Arm Pain, Headache And Temporary Loss Of Memory?
Question: I am a 61 yo male with a arrhythmia, I have a pass maker and defib. I work from home and was in my office this morning working. It was about 12.30 and I was on the internet and in the middle of an email, that is the last thing I remember. The next thing I know I wake up in my upstairs bedroom bed, wearing a shirt and name from the waste down (I never sleep in a shirt). Both calves are strained, my arms and shoulders hurt and I have a massive headache. I do not know how I got from my office to my bedroom. I got up and went back into my office. There the trash can was turned over, my office chair was turned over and my blue tooth ear piece was laying on the floor half way between my desk and the door. Did I have a heart attack? A stroke? To the best of my knowledge my defib did not go off (I have been told I would know that if it did). Any clue as to what happened to me? When I woke, I had no idea what day it was....HELP
Brief Answer:
Possible transient global amnesia but stroke and seizure should be excluded
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
One possibility judging from your description that episode does look like what is called transient global amnesia (TGA), a sudden, temporary loss of memory without a cause like stroke, trauma or seizure to explain it. The origin of TGA is not clear, there have been hypothesis considering stroke, epilepsy or migraine as its possible cause, but none was proven by studies.
If indeed it is a TGA case the prognosis is good, meaning in most cases the episode is isolated or very rare and no treatment is needed. However it is essential to exclude other possible causes such as stroke or seizures which may manifest with such an episode. For that reason a neurological physical exam as well as head imaging by CT or MRI (if your pacemaker permits it MRI is preferrable) is recommended, so you should present at the ER. Some routine blood tests such as blood count, glucose, electrolytes, creatine kinase as well as an EKG are also needed.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Possible transient global amnesia but stroke and seizure should be excluded
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
One possibility judging from your description that episode does look like what is called transient global amnesia (TGA), a sudden, temporary loss of memory without a cause like stroke, trauma or seizure to explain it. The origin of TGA is not clear, there have been hypothesis considering stroke, epilepsy or migraine as its possible cause, but none was proven by studies.
If indeed it is a TGA case the prognosis is good, meaning in most cases the episode is isolated or very rare and no treatment is needed. However it is essential to exclude other possible causes such as stroke or seizures which may manifest with such an episode. For that reason a neurological physical exam as well as head imaging by CT or MRI (if your pacemaker permits it MRI is preferrable) is recommended, so you should present at the ER. Some routine blood tests such as blood count, glucose, electrolytes, creatine kinase as well as an EKG are also needed.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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